The Music Men: The Guys Who Sang With the Bands and Beyond - Softcover

Grudens, Richard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1575790971 ISBN 13: 9781575790978

Publisher: Celebrity Profiles Inc, 1998

Synopsis

The best account of the great male vocalists of our lifetime published in 25 years.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

The Best Account of the Great Men Vocalists of the Big Band Era and Beyond Published in Over 25 Years.

As a companion to The Best Damn Trumpet Player and The Song Stars, The Music Men, the last of a trilogy, with a foreword by sometime singer Bob Hope, explores the world of the men vocalists. Richard Grudens initiates a retrospective tribute to the early singers Al Jolson & Bing Crosby (with a letter from Kathryn), Fats Waller, Rudy Vallee, Jack Teagarden, Russ Columbo, Jimmy Rushing, and Nat King Cole ( with Maria Cole). His heartwarming interviews or vignettes with living-legend artists, Frank Sinatra (just before his passing), Mel Torme', Herb Jeffries, Tony Martin, Johnny Mathis, Julius La Rosa, Guy Mitchell, Jerry Vale, Joe Williams, Al Martino, Eddie Fisher, Don Cornell, as well as Jack Jones, Vic Damone, and Steve Lawrence, are revealing, anecdotal gems to enjoy. And who could forget Dick Haymes (with Helen Forrest's help), The Ink Spots, Ray Eberle and Bob Eberly, and Billy Eckstine. Features: Donald Mills and the Mills Brothers, Sam Arlen talks of his father Harold Arlen ( the singer), and a look at Lou Lanza, Philadelphia's new singing star, who carries the torch. The chapter, Honorable Mentions, covers almost all the singers of the era.

Review:

As ever, Richard, you present us with a treasure trove of fascinating details about the great singers of the 30s,40s and beyond, couched in an engaging literary style. -- Kathryn Crosby

I'm glad for my copy of The Music Men,not the least of which because of the fond memories it brings. -- Charlton Heston

If you're a fan of the men singers, this is a book, presented in Grudens' warm and highly personal style, which should be on your shelf. -- Big Band Jump Newsletter

My wife Carol and I enjoyed it immensely. The book has warmth and it's a great job well done. -- Dom DeLuise

We have added all three of Richard Grudens' books to our library and to our bibliography of Graduate Course Offerings. -- Dr. Stanley G. Cohen, President Five Towns Music College, Dix Hills, NY

What a pity - So little is written about our American singers - Well done! -- Jeanne Martin

You did it again, Richard. The Music Men is very accurate, most big band books are not. You tell the truth about the music business --as I lived it. -- Connie Haines, legendary singer

"A Well written personal as well as factual- not just a who's who, also fun and enjoyable to read." -- Sam Arlen-Son of composer/lyricist Harold Arlen. Harold Arlen

"We are presented with a treasure trove about the great singers couched in an engaging literary style." -- Kathryn Crosby-Bing Crosby's wife.

About this edition

• Publisher: Celebrity Profiles Inc
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 1575790971
• ISBN 13: 9781575790978
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 234